Behavioral Health Clinic

As blog’s go, I tend to write from personal experience as I find that the words and thoughts come more genuinely. I, perhaps falsely, assume that if it’s crossed my mind or if I’ve experienced it, perhaps others have thought it, wondered it, experienced it (or something similar to it) too, thus making it worthy of putting down on “paper.” If not, perhaps something in this blog will peak your interest nonetheless. This blog focuses on personal reflection. This is important to me as I believe it’s the key to personal growth. However, having worked in the counseling field for over a decade, I’ve found that this is a skill set in which people tend to struggle. Personal insight for people ranges from “It’s all my fault, I’m the worst” to “It’s everyone else’s fault, I’m the victim here” and a variety of versions in between. Personal reflection and self-awareness are two things we often tend to explore and/or encourage in therapy. Personal reflection, or self-reflection, is the skill of bein...

Where in the world have the past few months gone? Summer came and went before we knew it and Fall is ahead of us. Fall is my favorite time of year, not to hot and not to cold. The leaves change colors and everything pumpkin comes out. Yes, I am that girl, Pumpkin Spice Latte’s and let’s just be honest, anything pumpkin goes. This time of year, a lot changes, some good, some challenging. School is back in session, parents are running their kids from here to there and back again, attending sporting events and trying to keep up with the household chores. All on top of working, maintaining relationships, and trying to find time to make dinner and get enough sleep. Does this sound like you? Stress can create several changes to our personalities including irritability, lack of interest in taking care of our needs or appearances, social withdrawal and isolation, and procrastination or reduced work productivity. Stress can also create changes to our cognitive functioning including difficulties...

Dr. Jessica Brooks is a licensed psychologist, certified rehabilitation counselor, and researcher. She grew up in rural South Central Wisconsin, and in 2014 received her PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Rehabilitation Psychology. Rehabilitation psychology is a psychology subspecialty that focuses on maximizing health, functioning, and community participation across the lifespan of people with disabilities and chronic health conditions including serious mental illnesses. For over a decade, she has been involved in clinical care and foundation and federally funded mental health promotion research, with over 80 peer-reviewed journal publications focusing on mental health and rehabilitation topics and the development and implementation of new counseling and psychotherapy interventions. Dr. Brooks completed her clinical internship at a community-based mental health program with Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison, Wisconsin. She is also a former Tenure-Track faculty and ...

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) – The United States withdrawal from Afghanistan may bring back past trauma for some veterans. That’s why a local licensed counselor, Luke Severt, wanted to tell them about an option for dealing with it. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR, is a form of therapy that may be a good fit for veterans rehashing memories. Click here   to watch the interview. If you’re interested in learning more about EMDR or scheduling an appointment  contact Behavioral Health Clinic in Wausau .

In the third and final part of the 'Life After the Pandemic' series, Maggi Rocha CAPSW, QTT discusses what to expect with the upcoming school season; how to roll with unexpected policy changes; and the importance of coping with (and potentially preventing) burnout for yourself and your family. If you have any questions or want to learn more, please  click here .

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting around 40 million adults-almost 1 in 5 people. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that almost 300 million people, across the globe, have an anxiety disorder. Approximately 1 in 6 individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms will suffer from anxiety according to some research. Although we do not know exactly why they coexist, worrying is one of the most commonly reported symptoms of PTSD. The following are possible reasons individuals with PTSD can also experience significant symptoms of anxious distress: Worry can become amplified in a hyper-aroused emotional state, to the point where it becomes difficult to overcome. Many people may turn to their worrying as a way to cope with stressful situations. People can use worry as a distraction to keep their concerns and worries hidden from others. Another potential reason is that both conditions are induced by similar experiences. A prior e...

September is the month of many important things. It’s the start of school, the beginning of pumpkin spice everything, and for some it shines a light on a seldom spoken about topic: the mental effects on parents of children whose lives began in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Around half a million babies end up in the NICU each year, meaning a significant portion of our population knows someone who or is directly affected in by the unique challenges of being a NICU family. NICU parents (yes that includes you dads!) are at an increased risk of experiencing depression, anxiety, and/or PTSD for anywhere from a few months to several years. In addition, postpartum mood disorders don’t always present in the immediate days, weeks, or even months after a NICU baby is born and comes home. Only 15% of mom’s with Postpartum Mood Disorders are diagnosed and receive proper treatment. In a 2015 study out of Duke University that out of 113 new mothers with babies in the NICU, 42% had depressi...

Meena Statz, M.ED, CRC, LPC is Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a Wisconsin Licensed Professional Counselor. Meena received her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Rehabilitation Counseling and her graduate degree from The Pennslyvania State University in Rehabilitation Psychology. Meena has over a decade of experience in working with adults, families and teens. She specializes in working with clients and their families in addressing mental health concerns, achieving behavioral goals, navigating life transitions, and coping with disability/chronic illness. Meena also has a passion for working with people who experience chronic suicidal ideation and self-injurious behaviors. Meena utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, talk therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and art/creative outlets. Meena is also a certified yoga teacher and meditation instructor. She incorporates mindful movement into sessions as needed and requested. Meena has sp...